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thoughts travel immediately to that closing chapter of Luke's Gospel, where the disciples
were led to exclaim:
"Did not our hearts burn within us, while He talked with us by the way, and while He
opened to us the Scriptures" (Luke 24: 32).
If we enquire as to the way in which the Lord opened the Scriptures with such
enriching consequences, we have not far to seek. In verse 27 we shall find His method.
"And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the
Scriptures the things concerning Himself" (Luke 24: 27).
The subject is of such importance that we find it repeated in verse 44:
"These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things
must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the
psalms concerning Me" (Luke 24: 44).
We find other Spirit-led servants of the Lord following these steps. Philip found
the Ethiopian eunuch reading a part of Isa. 53:, and the eunuch asked the question:
"I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?"
(Acts 8: 34). Philip began at the same scripture and preached unto him Jesus.
Paul, on more than one occasion is found "opening the book" in this same way.
"And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned
with them out of the scriptures, opening and alleging that Christ must needs have
suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus Whom I preach unto you, is
Christ" (Acts 17: 2, 3).
It is not our object to write at length upon these themes, but rather to stimulate the
interest of the reader, in the hope that the riches of the book may be sought and found
individually.
We might perhaps draw attention to the fact that an opened book is seen at the time of
the end. When the time comes for the Lord to take the Kingdom and reign, He alone is
found worthy to "open the book" (Rev. 5:), and when the millennial Kingdom has run its
course, and the great white throne is set, even then the destiny of man is still involved in
the opening of books.
"The books were opened: and another book was opened which is the book of life"
(Rev. 20: 12).
Returning to our theme. The opened ear is first of all necessary so that we may learn,
but the opened book is likewise necessary if the truth is to be made known to us. The
equipment of the child of God for service that the Word of God accomplishes is so
complete, that the word "perfect" used in II Tim. 3: 17 is one used in connection with a
dockyard, having reference to the fitting out of a ship. We need therefore:
(1)
The opened ear.--To learn.
(2)
The opened book.--To equip.